Rows of more than 100 tables sit in ShipRec waiting for students interested in possible internships and careers.

This Monday, Oct. 27 from 1-4 p.m., Shippensburg University will be holding its annual Career Day job fair.

Those interested in coming are advised to dress professionally and bring a copy of their up-to-date resumes. Students should be prepared to ask questions and be interviewed by staff members from various companies. Since there are more than 100 businesses, ranging from the Peace Corps to Waffle House, attending the job fair, it is recommended that students check out the list ahead of time to find specific businesses they are interested in.

Career Day is a way “to make valuable contacts that may lead to career opportunities in the future,” as stated by the career center on the SU website. It is also a source for making contacts with employees, which can lead to future jobs.

Career center employee, Brian Krueger, states that unless students break the “vanilla” mold and stick out from other SU students they will not have much success at the Job Fair. “If you’re to succeed at a job fair, you have to take a very aggressive, yet structured approach,” Krueger said.
Since there are long lines for each business, it is recommended that students only wait for ones they are truly interested in and are qualified for.

Students often forget the last step of attending a job fair: follow up. There are four items to keep in mind, as advised by the career center. First it is important to send a thank you letter within three days after the event and ask for additional information. In addition, students should fill out any applications given and return them as well as another copy of their resume.

Another item to keep in mind is the balance between persistence and aggression. Students need to make sure to show they care about the job opportunity but not be overly enthusiastic either. Lastly, students need to stay organized with all the applications they filled out, phone calls they made, and resumes they handed out so they can move forward more smoothly.

By the time students walk away from these rows of tables they should be filled with knowledge on multiple businesses, networking contacts and website information to benefit their future.

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